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Lull in sockeye fishing as late run kings to open

Shannon Biamonte shared this photo of her husband, Josh, and daughter, Trinity, with a halibut on a day of fishing out of Homer.

Marty Radvansky shared this photo of wife Claudia's 141.9-pound catch. The fish was caught out of Homer.

My husband Clark and I were in Kasilof and Kenai for a weeks vacation and while out on the ocean in Ninilchik, my husband caught a 142.5 pound halibut!! My husband has been fishing in your area for the past 28 years and has never caught a fish that big. This was my first time up in Alaska. The coolest part of catching this fish, for me personally, is that the Owner of the boat "The O'Dea" Robbie Carroll passed away a couple of years ago and his last wish was for his wife Susan and his Grandson Wyatt to keep his business alive. Wyatt worked as a deckhand on his grandfather's boat most of his childhood and is now the Captain of The O'Dea at just 20 years old. I think it is very heart warming that Clark caught that fish on Wyatt's boat and they all toasted to Robbie. It is the biggest catch on The O'Dea since Robbie passed and also the biggest since Wyatt became its Captain. I would love for you to run a little story on this special catch. My phone number is 775-737-8990. Thank you so much Dan and I look forward to hearing from you. Stacy Compton Reno, Nevada

Late-run king fishing will open Monday on the Kenai River as the early sockeye salmon run hits a lull on the Kenai River.

As the Kenai River is currently muddy, Miller suggests anglers use darker lures for fishing the late-run kings when the river opens. If the waters clear, brighter, flashier lures are more effective, he said.

For anglers chasing sockeye salmon, Miller said the Kasilof River above the boat launch is fishing very well. The Russian River is slowing down and the Kenai River is nearly done for the first run of sockeye, he said. “Shortly here, we’ll see the second run starting here on the Kenai,” he said.

But rivers are certainly not the only option. Anglers have been successful in Cook Inlet and stocked waters in the Southern Peninsula.

“The salt water’s been fantastic,” Miller said. “Halibut fishing has been off the hook, so to speak, for quite a while.”

Halibut this year have been smaller than past years at an average of 12.6 pounds per ground fish, according to Fish and Game, but anglers have had a lot of luck with jigs or lighter tackle, Miller said. Recently, a sport fishing charter caught in three days two halibut tagged in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.

Fish and Game has received a few reports of mushy — or flabby, jelly-like — halibut. Anglers should release those halibut immediately, and they are encouraged to fish in another location, as the condition can linger in certain areas, according to Fish and Game.

Anglers fishing in the stocked Selodvia Fishing Lagoon and Homer Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon have been catching fish, too, said Carol Kerkvliet, assistant Homer area management biologist for Fish and Game. Off Homer’s spit, anglers have been catching pollock, cod, flatfish, dolly and occasional kings, among other fish, she said.

Lakes and ponds are good options too for anglers. The ice on most large and small lakes and ponds is melting, and anglers have been having luck trolling, Miller said.

“If you want to go camping, bring some leaches, some spinners and have some fun,” he said.